About
Contact
Advertise

Facebook
Twitter

February 19, 2026 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 19 February 2026

Like this:

Like Loading…

Email
Facebook
Twitter
Comment209

Uncategorized
General Debate

Comments (209)

Login to comment or vote

Nikola Donatello

A home invasion in Christchurch. Will be interesting to see who is charged.

This caught my pedantic eye. “Hill assured the community that police were “working at speed” 🙄 to identify and find the people involved.”

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360940543/four-injured-after-late-night-altercation-northcote

The latest fad in the public service in Wellington: tell everyone that you are “working at pace”. 😩🤮

There is an adverb that can substitute for both these stupid expressions.

“working quickly”.

You might say “working as fast as possible”.

Please no more “working at pace”.
43 1
Log in to Reply
Report
February 19, 2026 8:01am
- Simon
  
  Govt departments under National reduced to monitoring the situation
  
  1 4
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 8:06am
- Cassandra
  
  Perhaps a more important issue might be the Rubio speech. Noting that the only people present with a vote were his security team and a few dips, it might not be a game changer but didn’t he look like a future President?
  
  16 9
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 8:13am
  - Nikola Donatello
    
    Not sure what that has to do with my comment. 🙂
    
    17 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 8:27am
    - Cassandra
      
      Nothing. Just a dig 😇 that there might be bigger issues? And an endeavour to spark a debate about Rubio’s merits.
      
      8 9
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 19, 2026 8:35am
      - Dudley Quaffquaff
        
        Then start your own thread. It’s not difficult, and less rude
        
        5 4
        Report
        February 19, 2026 8:43am
      - All_on_Red
        
        If you are interested in where Rubios view of the world is coming from then you may like this discussion about the US National Defence Strategy (the doc is also in the link)
        The commentator is a retired Naval Officer
        https://cdrsalamander.substack.com/p/so-we-have-a-national-defense-strategy
        
        It is remarkably non isolationist.
        
        9 1
        Report
        February 19, 2026 9:20am
    - Jethrod
      
      I detect a note of chagrin, almost jealousy I that comment!
      
      1 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 19, 2026 8:37am
  - Handyman
    
    He is not a future president. He is a future vice president, a role normally going to someone with an expertise in international affairs. (Recent VP excepted).
    
    1 4
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 9:08am
    - alwyn.a
      
      I think the old joke is still accurate.
      Once there were two brothers. One ran away to sea and the other became Vice President. Neither was ever heard of again.
      
      0 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 19, 2026 7:04pm
  - sungsamning
    
    Yes, he did. Quietly authoritative, competent, and cogent. Then again, he could end up as president of Cuba. -;)
    
    4 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 9:18am
- Fender
  
  with pace, surely it applies to fast or slow so basically irrelevant
  
  2 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 8:25am
- Michael Johnston
  
  “Working quickly”
  “Working as fast as possible”
  “Working at pace”
  “Working with velocity”
  “Working at speed”
  
  They could say any of those ways, but it would remain untrue.
  
  3 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 8:33am
- kowtow
  
  Another fad is ‘acknowledging” the great work , followed by how “incedibly proud” they are of everyone’s efforts.
  
  All well and good , but it is a fad.Along with having the staged , everyone standing in “shot” , looking serious ,along with the branded outer wear.
  
  9 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 8:44am
- MCōs
  
  A couple of other terms commonly overheard in the popular Mangere Bridge cafes
  Acting with dispatch
  Proceeding with due haste
  Not to be confused with undue or indecent haste
  
  14 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 8:58am
  - Jethrod
    
    How about hurrying slowly? Festina Lente.
    
    2 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 9:15am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Hipkins likes saying ‘laser focus’.
    
    5 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 9:42am
  - fightingtemeraire
    
    At sea “Proceed at utmost dispatch” meant get there as fast as you can.
    
    3 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 12:13pm
    - imalwaysright
      
      I don’t think you would want these characters on you ship Fighting.
      
      0 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 19, 2026 6:18pm
- crackle
  
  Public servants say they’re ‘working at pace’ instead of ‘working quickly’ or ‘working as fast as possible’ because they’re not working quickly or as fast as possible whay you’ll probably find is that they’re working at snails pace.
  
  5 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 8:58am
  - Paulus
    
    But the snails timng are controlled by the DEI Chief Executive and personally appointed staff.
    
    0 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 2:44pm
- David Garrett
  
  Nikola: At least not as bad as US cops who often say ” get out of the car real quick“…often it is an oxymoron: “get out of the car slowly real quick”…I don’t think American cops are particularly intelligent by and large…
  
  6 14
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 9:26am
  - Dougal10
    
    The real quick part is don’t feck around or I’ll shoot and the slowly is no sudden moves or I’ll shoot
    
    5 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 10:39am
  - Notsofast
    
    There is already a formula.
    More haste less speed.
    
    3 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 10:47am
  - Charlotte Wells
    
    I could tell you some horror stories about NZ cops.
    
    0 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 11:30am
- Positan
  
  Nikola, an expression used on virtually every instance by Luxon, Mitchell et all that constantly bugs me is how they’re “working hard …”
  
  “Working” would be the minimum expected from persons holding their positions and, if the occasion so demanded, nothing less than “working hard” would be expected.
  
  Jeez, on the salaries and perks they enjoy, surely “working hard” would be the BASE position. They don’t have to try and con us as to their commitment – they’re either performing to meet the standards needed and required – or they’re not.
  
  4 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 10:01am
  - PurplePen
    
    the one I dislike is “taking a decision” which is what Luxon’s cabinet uses in their list of things are going to achieve in the next three months. no-one takes a decision you make a decision.
    
    3 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 2:04pm
- cmm
  
  In the early 2000s it was common for airlines to use beverage as a verb:
  * We will shortly commence beveraging …
  
  6 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 11:14am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Black Power // Mongrel Mob
  just expressing aroha and manaakitanga
  
  https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/587234/manhunt-after-clash-between-rival-gang-members-leaves-four-people-hurt-one-critical-in-christchurch
  
  9 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 11:45am
  - cas
    
    Someone got beaten up the other day outside the Warehouse ( which used to be known ironically as the Red Shed) in Whakatane for wearing a red hat.
    
    5 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 12:41pm
- OlderChas
  
  First thing to ask – what pace? Dawdling is a pace lol.
  
  5 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 1:33pm
- NZer In Exile
  
  Ah yes the never ending “corporate drivel”.
  
  One that always stuck with me was “pivot”. With that I always imagined some an over-eager corporate drone on a turntable semi-crouched in a starting position (like at the track and field sports at the Olympics). OK maybe I have a weird imagination.
  
  0 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 9:42pm
Simon

National believes mountains can be people. This is the pathway to the third world

NZ’s future is cooked. If in doubt just look at National
2 8
Log in to Reply
Report
February 19, 2026 8:07am
artemisia

The [USA] federal government is hemorrhaging around $1 trillion per year due to fraud, Haywood Talcove, CEO of LexisNexis Special Services & LexisNexis Risk Solutions Government, said while testifying at a congressional hearing last week. … or $115 million every single hour, of which 70% is related to transnational criminals.” That amount is a lot more than official estimates and may be overstating it, but it is the LexisNexis day job.

US GDP is about $30 trillion a year so about 3% possible federal fraud a year. New Zealand GDP is about $440 billion a year. And 3% is about $13 billion a year. What is New Zealand’s estimate of fraudulent access to taxpayer funds? Do we know? Is anyone looking?

(LexisNexis is part of RELX Group, large, global and already operating here.)

https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/federal-fraud-double-previous-estimates-lexisnexis-risk-solutions-ceo-says
16 3
Log in to Reply
Report
February 19, 2026 8:19am
- keepcalmcarryon
  
  Start with the Maori Covid money.
  
  6 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 9:06am
- Phronesis
  
  Our government is a much larger share of the economy so I would expect it to be roughly double that in NZ.
  
  4 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 11:13am
- Ian Boag
  
  Do cashies count?
  
  0 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 1:38pm
muzled

Good to see Mandami is wasting no time implementing his socialist utopia on New York city.

‘runs off to check popcorn is well stocked’…

https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2026/02/18/mamdani-eyes-property-tax-hike-if-hochul-doesn-t-raise-taxes-on-wealthiest-nyers

Mamdani eyes property tax hike if Hochul doesn’t raise taxes on wealthy New Yorkers
BY Bernadette Hogan New York City
PUBLISHED 7:55 PM ET Feb. 17, 2026

In his first city budget plan presented Tuesday, Mayor Zohran Mamdani argued if Gov. Kathy Hochul doesn’t agree to a tax hike on the rich, then he will have to raise property taxes on millions of city homeowners to help pay for current city expenditures as well as new expenses.

“Nothing about this is typical, that’s why our solutions won’t be either,” Mamdani said during a nearly hour-long budget presentation at City Hall with reporters
8 0
Log in to Reply
Report
February 19, 2026 8:20am
- artemisia
  
  Mayor Mamdani probably thinks the 33,000 New Yorkers earning over a mill a year won’t be bothered about an extra 2% personal income tax. I’d guess they won’t be too bothered about the money, but might have a not-so-vague idea it might be the softening up phase. And they have options, lots of options.
  
  So the threat / promise to bump up property taxes impacting pretty much everyone, along with the flow on effects of cost increases, might come to pass. Yeah right.
  
  4 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 1:16pm
  - Paulus
    
    The US tax sytem is fraught beyond belief as so many appear to get away with all sorts of rorts.
    At least New Zealand’s is simple by comparison.
    
    1 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 2:48pm
Quail

From yesterdays “ breaking news” Mike Hoskings interviewed the RB Governor on the OCR.
He did a good job ,but not so the Governor, falling back on the Labour market to explain her inaction on the OCR,
Inflation in NZ is outside the band required by the PTA but no effort to deal with that was made.Imported inflation is strong.
Inflation is theft, or as economist Milton Friedman said “ another tax “
It is stealing savings from those who have worked hard all their lives and giving them to those who have not.
The mess left by the previous Governor required firm action now . Not just a suggestion that may happen later on.
This non-decision / action has all the attributes of Election year driven decision making!
6 0
Log in to Reply
Report
February 19, 2026 8:32am
- PurplePen
  
  Consider this: Andorra has a flat 10% income tax and the world’s lowest vat (4.5%), yet it’s the world’s safest place, top infrastructure, low crime, excellent social services. Contrast with Australia and us with progressive income taxes of up to 45% and 39%, higher property crime rates, aging infrastructure. Something’s amiss. Sure, a lot of wealthy live there, but there must be more to it than that
  
  3 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 2:15pm
  - Quail
    
    A flat tax idea was floated here in NZ by Roger Douglas.
    Thar actually seemed a good idea at the time and still has some merit.
    Clarity of who pays what still makes sense as does transparency as to who is receiving benefits etc.
    
    0 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 8:30pm
- Paulus
  
  I thought for her first interview with the radio media she came over well.
  
  2 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 2:49pm
- Ra Henare
  
  Just a small point. The Govenor does not set the interest rates. That is done by the MPC(Monetary Policy Committee) of which she is a member
  
  So blame.
  
  Dr. Anna Breman – Governor of the RBNZ
  Karen Silk – Assistant Governor and MPC member
  Paul Conway – Chief Economist and MPC member
  Professor Prasanna Gai – External member (also Head of Economics, Accounting ; Finance at the University of Auckland)
  
  As far as I can see Karen Silk is not an econmist but maybe a DEI Hire with banking management background?????
  
  1 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 3:38pm
Yvette

Willie Jackson? Yes he will …
Labour and the implementation of the Declaration of Indigenous Rights (UNDRIP).

Willie Jackson’s 127 hui with selected Maori: participants spoke, reactions were gathered, and a tangible record of views emerged that could, in principle, shape policy. Yet even there, the process faced a bottleneck — about 20% of the report was held back because Jackson, as gatekeeper, was not satisfied it was ready for Cabinet.

If a Labour coalition wins the Election, will Willie Jackson hold another 127 hui to reconsult selected Maori on co-governance.

Willie Jackson held a consultation process where selected Maori were consulted (channelling the outcome) and a team of writers shaped policy from that (channelling the outcome more) which Jackson oversaw to approve suitability to go to Cabinet (again channelling the outcome).

Is that enough to help you decide whether you want to chance it all happening again with ‘Gatekeeper’ Willie Jackson in charge?
10 0
Log in to Reply
Report
February 19, 2026 8:33am
grumpy

The reason I can never vote for Seymour.
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/02/canadistan-control-family-accuses-assisted-suicide-laws-killing/
8 24
Log in to Reply
Report
February 19, 2026 8:36am
- rouppe
  
  Sure. That incident is an example of someone who needs mental health support being enabled to commit suicide.
  
  On the flip side, think about your partner, parent, sibling, child lying in bed with aggressive cancer eating them from the inside, on a permanent high dose of morphine to counter the pain, suffering through months, and months, and months of pain, delerium, ignominy, and deterioration, ultimately to die from asphyxiation because they’re not strong enough to breath anymore, and explain to them why they can’t end it now on their terms.
  
  11 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 8:55am
  - Quail
    
    Rouppe,
    Another issue is NZ planning to tighten up gun storage law to reduce self harm by owners and others.
    Allegedly the majority of firearm deaths in NZ are self inflicted.
    
    0 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 10:56pm
- Inandout
  
  grumpy, he may change now he is married and children are around the corner.
  
  2 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 8:56am
- Chuck Bird
  
  I vote for Seymour, but I am unhappy about his stance on euthanasia. There is no party leader with whom I totally agree on everything.
  
  32 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 8:59am
  - lastmanstanding
    
    Seymour and ACT are the only party proposing smaller Government. Big Government is a dead weight drain on the economy. IMHO Government should be no more than 20% at present it is 43%. The additional 23% crowds out and prevents the private sector from expanding and earning the dollars that pay the taxes. Remember the tax civil servants pay is just a repayment of taxes not new and additional tax. ACT policy of 20 Ministries is better than the current shambles where MBIE reports to 23 different Ministers alone. Remember civil servants want big complex complicated Government. That way they can bamboozle Ministers and control the agenda. Watch Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister and remember Thatcher said they were documentaries not comedies.
    
    40 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 9:11am
    - pdm
      
      lastman – while they are going about it ACT should campaign to reduce the number of List MP’s to say 20.
      
      Then we would really be getting somewhere.
      
      16 3
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 19, 2026 9:53am
      - Ian Boag
        
        That woukd seriously impact their number of seats. Turkeys and Christmas and all that.
        
        As soon as you go to the FPP model parties without a regional majority are stuffed. Vulnerable to things like boundary changes et etc.
        
        I’m not even 100% sure that Seymour would get Epsom if the Nats ran a “real” candidate there ….
        
        1 7
        Report
        February 19, 2026 12:19pm
    - R
      
      The issue isn’t the SIZE of the government, and associated departments. The ISSUE is the COMPETENCE of the MP’s, the Senior and middle MANAGEMENT skills, and the front desk staffing.
      Policies of DEI recruitment have lead to most of the burecratic inefficiencies plaguing NZ.
      
      6 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 19, 2026 9:59am
    - Quail
      
      Love to see much smaller government ( including local government) with commensurate reduction in regulation .
      Government and it’s regulations plus enforcement are a huge cost to productivity and private business
      The trouble is with the number of salaries and payments etc are dependent on Government (and the rate/taxpayers ) ensures the majority will never vote for smaller government
      The turkey and Xmas syndrome!
      
      0 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 19, 2026 8:49pm
  - RoboRob
    
    I’m in the same boat Chuck. I wish Act would focus less on euthanasia and more on their other policies BUT as you say, no party will 100% align with your views. Choose the one the is the best fit / least distasteful.
    
    26 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 9:29am
    - Damocles11
      
      Seymour won his referendum ages ago. So where and how is all his ‘focus’ going on euthanasia? Canada is not New Zealand, unfortunately religious fundamentalists have a bee in their bonnet about people opting out of ongoing extreme pain and suffering, pain and suffering which achieves nothing except sadness, horror, and despair.
      Anyway, once again this coming election the Coalition parties will miss out on 1% or 2% of the vote due to people putting their sanctimonious moral highground ahead of the absolute need to keep the loony Left out government.
      
      10 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 19, 2026 11:22am
      - RoboRob
        
        Act have just put through changes to the existing act. I’m not being sanctimonious, I voted for act and probably voted for the original bill in the referendum.
        
        1 0
        Report
        February 19, 2026 1:56pm
  - Cassandra
    
    Euthanasia was a nationally approved measure, Seymour simply the catalyst. Look at the big(ger) picture.
    
    13 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 9:32am
    - Chuck Bird
      
      It was approved, but not the radical changes he is proposing.
      
      8 5
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 19, 2026 9:37am
      - Ra Henare
        
        As I undertsand it he is proposing changes to bring it in to line with the original recommendations.?
        
        0 0
        Report
        February 19, 2026 3:44pm
    - grumpy
      
      Euthanasia is one of the Left’s cornerstone planks. Climate Change, White Supremacy, Islamophobia, Misogyny, Institutional Racism, Sexism, Tax the Rich. As far as I can tell Seymour is the only semi Right Wing politician anywhere pushing for euthanasia and now trying to “extend” it after promising the voters not to.
      We always hear the plight of the poor pain ridden terminally ill to get the policy accepted.
      My problem is having shown he is susceptible to one Left Wing policy plank, how many others does he secretly support?
      
      2 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 19, 2026 2:49pm
  - David Garrett
    
    Chuck: Keith Holyoake – if you came to NZ in 1966 he was PM then – once said that he only agreed with about 80% of National Party policy. Perhaps that flexibility explains why he was able to do four terms from 1960 to ’72.
    
    19 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 9:40am
    - imalwaysright
      
      DG
      That’s a good point about flexibility.
      
      How many times have we seen Governments caught between entrenched policy and the fluidity of the real world.
      
      Luxon seems to be caught in the Climate policy net, if he came out and said there is new information therefore we will adapt our policy, he would be better off and so would we.
      
      10 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 19, 2026 9:49am
    - Chuck Bird
      
      Probably.
      
      4 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 19, 2026 9:55am
    - MCōs
      
      It’s worth remembering that the National governments of Holyoake and Muldoon, which went almost continuously from 1957-84 were far bigger than anything since.
      Controls in place in those days were breathtaking compared to now.
      Socialism by any other name
      
      4 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 19, 2026 11:44am
      - Wandering Star
        
        And yet in those years, particularly the earlier portion, our standard of living and quality of life (not synonymous) were remarkably high by global standards.
        
        5 1
        Report
        February 19, 2026 12:34pm
      - RoboRob
        
        @Wandering Star
        
        A lot of that was more to do with the UK buying every scrap of lamb we could produce and paying well in pounds (for example). Not becuse Muldoon set the price of milk. In the 80s we paid the price for Muldoons (and others) socialist policies. Remember the Lange Labour govt?
        
        2 0
        Report
        February 19, 2026 1:59pm
      - Paulus
        
        And the Public Service in those days was not considered corrupt overall.
        How time have changed with DEI appointments started really by Helen Clark and her close lady friends.
        
        1 0
        Report
        February 19, 2026 3:00pm
    - grumpy
      
      That is back when political parties actually had policies that they actually campaigned on. Now things like Captains Calls” are hidden until after the elections.
      
      1 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 19, 2026 2:52pm
  - NZer In Exile
    
    I think if NZ slips into Canada style insanity on euthanasia laws will be adjusted to restore sanity. I do think people should be able to chose not to needlessly die with suffering. I don’t think people with religious beliefs need to stick their oar in. If they want to die a horrible death well, I feel sorry for them, but they should not inflict their masochistic urges based on “faith” (in invisible and undetectable stuff) on others.
    
    What I did not like was Seymour’s (or ACT’s) support of full term abortion( or there abouts). I think the justifying comment from them was “women are not baby mills” (or words to that effect).
    
    Pure libertarianism is unworkable in the real world. I do find Seymour very logical on many issues though.
    
    0 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 9:57pm
- Ipanema69
  
  Well you better be prepared to keep on paying high and increasing taxes for the rest of your life.
  
  Sure as sh*t the nats are not going to reduce the size of government. Labgreen only ever increase taxes.
  
  31 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 9:01am
  - Ian Boag
    
    Your model would be sure as shit we should get used to fewer hospitals, paying for our own drugs, curtailing the pension, hiring private police forces, tolling all roads, “user” pays on all education, no ACC …. I could go on.
    
    Maybe you could let us know which of the above you go along with …. ? Give us some indication of how much could be saved on each and understand that total savings under (say) $10bn don’t really dent the issue.
    
    2 30
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 9:08am
    - Handyman
      
      The left and the civil service would not make very good weight loss advisors.
      Their only answer to losing weight would be to select a limb to chop off. They reject the concept of diet and exercise and possibly the answer is to consume even more resources.
      Hence the rote response – what services do you want to chop? The civil service is already running at peak efficiency. Could do with more staff.
      
      7 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 19, 2026 9:14am
      - NZer In Exile
        
        Once they tax the hell out of everything (to spend on wasteful endeavours), systems and processes start failing. Then the next thing they do is hide/fudge the data showing this.
        
        0 0
        Report
        February 19, 2026 10:00pm
    - Jigsaw
      
      Ian – That argument is so old it has whiskers on it! Jim Anderston replied to criticism of government waste by asking what schools and hospitals you wanted closed. A straw man argument that totally ignores government waste – or are you perchance suggesting that that is no government waste?
      
      32 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 19, 2026 9:21am
      - In Vino Veritas
        
        Spot on Jigsaw. Don’t worry about $10m in waste as the number isn’t big enough. Laughable.
        
        4 0
        Report
        February 19, 2026 9:29am
      - Ian Boag
        
        OK so you don’t want to close hospitals or schools. You wouldn’t really be telling today’s health system to find $500m in savings right now. Plus you would accept – as Simeon tells us – there is a lot of work to be done before Pharmac can cough out for more cancer drugs. You would leave the pension as is … because paying it to over-65’s who have $100k income is not wasteful.
        
        I come back to “what would you cut?” along with “how much would it save?”.
        
        Maybe you can do a bit better than the usual “lots of things” and “heaps” …. Maybe you could quantify the undoubted waste expenditure by government? Possibly you could estimate how much the average taxpayers cost would be reduced by eliminating it?
        
        “Lots” and “heaps” is so much easier.
        
        Not that I think waste is a good idea but it would be good to have a solid $$$ estimate of what it amounts to and what eliminating it would mean to the cost of my taxes.
        
        3 14
        Report
        February 19, 2026 9:35am
      - David Garrett
        
        Ian b: OK, I’ll play…just for starters I would close down: the Ministry of Women’s affairs (We have had three female PM’s and half the judiciary are women, so why do we need it?); the paternalistic Te Puni Kokiri; the Maori language commission; the Waitangi Tribunal…others will no doubt suggest other ministries and “agencies” which are no longer needed.
        
        29 0
        Report
        February 19, 2026 9:56am
      - Alwyn Poole
        
        Quite a lot of non-frontline “fat” to cut out of here and not having done so gives a lie to National being fiscally thrift and breaks many election promises.
        https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/data/workforce-data/public-sector-composition/workforce-size
        
        15 3
        Report
        February 19, 2026 9:56am
      - RoboRob
        
        @Ian and David Garret
        
        I posted just yesterday that by getting rif of the Childrens commisioner we could save at least $7-8m per year, likely double that.
        
        14 0
        Report
        February 19, 2026 11:00am
      - imalwaysright
        
        Here’s a list of organisations that get public money.
        
        Question: Do they exist for us, or do we exist for them?
        
        https://www.govt.nz/organisations/
        
        5 0
        Report
        February 19, 2026 11:14am
      - Nigel Kearney
        
        There are lots of small savings that can be made. But the major areas of low value spending are welfare and superannuation and National is too scared to seriously address those.
        
        4 1
        Report
        February 19, 2026 12:29pm
      - Ian Boag
        
        @Rob
        
        That’s a good start. Call it $20m/year. Doubt that I would notice it in my tax bill seeing as that $20m. Total expenditure is about $125,000m ….. so 1% is $1250m. $20m is 1.6% of that 1%. Every little bit helps of course 🙂
        
        Maybe you could come up with a package of cuts that I might notice in my tax bill? Simeon thinks it is a good idea to cut health costs by $500m. Fair enough I guess as the health system is bloated, overstaffed and responds so quickly to people’s needs ….
        
        I come back to what needs to be cut, and what level of savings would it generate? Even DG is doing the “lots” and “heaps” answer.
        
        Someone in gummint who actually needs to run the books would presumably have answers to these questions that KBers so studiously avoid.
        
        0 7
        Report
        February 19, 2026 12:31pm
      - Ian Boag
        
        @DG
        
        Numbers. $$$. Please …. Otherwise as you say, you are just “playing” ….
        
        1 2
        Report
        February 19, 2026 12:41pm
      - RoboRob
        
        @Ian Boag
        
        Ah the old. Your savings are so small when compared to govermnet debt (or other big number). The point, as you well know, is that there are lots of areas where small savings can be made. Those savings really add up.
        
        The concept of ‘I’m $100 short each week, I could stop buying take away coffee but that would only save me $5. Thats not enough so I will keep buying them’ is intellectually bankrupt.
        
        6 0
        Report
        February 19, 2026 2:02pm
      - rouppe
        
        @ian boag
        
        I’d have a small team of roving auditors. They would be authorized to recommend firing people to the CEO, and firing the CEO to the minister.
        
        Their brief would be to identify the wasteful projects -like the teaching council ones in another post – and recommend firing the people responsible for promoting and authorizing it. Or firing the CEO of they don’t act on the recommendation.
        
        It would be pretty easy to find half a dozen completely useless projects, plus another dozen projects that have dragged on several years past their estimate.
        
        Once you start metaphorically slitting throats, the wider public service will amend their practices very very quickly.
        
        Further tough action will drop off logarithmically.
        
        0 0
        Report
        February 19, 2026 2:47pm
      - Paulus
        
        Then why are the results of the Education System so poor ?
        And am not sure anything will change as the form of corruption is so deeply embedded.
        
        0 0
        Report
        February 19, 2026 3:03pm
    - KKNZ2025
      
      Labour increased public servants by 18000/40% between 2017-2023 with no significant improvement in public services. At average >$100k pa each = $2 Billion pa.
      
      Therefore, it is likely that cutting the public servant staff numbers by half would not significantly impact frontline support.
      
      National have done nothing more than token virtue signaling to address this jobseeker makework rorting.
      
      6 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 19, 2026 9:29am
      - RoboRob
        
        National could definately do a lot better. I am on record here harping on about it 🙂
        
        However I think the savings have been ‘poorly communicated’. I know people in Welligton that claim the public service has been decimated. Certainly thats not what the numbers show though. The ‘trick’ is that there is also a truck load of front line hiring. My wife works for the MOE (on the front line). In her area dozens (probably hundreds nation wide) additional staff have been hired to meet newly implemented services.
        
        I think a ton of Wellington type pencil pushers have disappeared but that is offset by more front line staff elsewhere. Thats great for the country but doesn’t show in the overall public service numbers or the budget.
        
        2 0
        Report
        February 19, 2026 2:08pm
    - Simon
      
      “Your model would be sure as shit we should get used to fewer hospitals, paying for our own drugs, curtailing the pension, hiring private police forces, tolling all roads, “user” pays on all education, no ACC …. I could go on.”
      
      That’s what we have now. Under National there is general rationing and soft defaults on National Super. Don’t think it’s just ACT.
      
      The decline is real, and the Wellington Clown Show devotes a lot of time gas lighting the plebs…….
      
      1 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 19, 2026 9:51am
    - artemisia
      
      Ian Boag, maybe you could let us know how many of our 40 taxpayer funded specific job roles Microsoft reckons will be highly exposed to AI automation. And estimated taxpayer savings.
      
      12 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 19, 2026 9:56am
      - Dudley Quaffquaff
        
        I imagine you are referring to something specific, in which case perhaps you could share it, but here’s a thing suggesting we may not be seeing large scale AI-led savings anytime soon.
        
        Thousands of executives aren’t seeing AI productivity boom, reminding economists of IT-era paradox | Fortune https://share.google/nKrhsF2xZOSuuQLun
        
        I should have thought that jobs that require applying established criteria on the basis of specific information would be AI-able. Does this person qualify for a passport, does this building proposal comply with relevant laws local and national, how much tax does this business owe, etc. Are we comfortable eliminating people entirely from that decision process?
        
        But would you have AI deciding whether to spend money on defence or education? Assessing whether a spending programme has delivered the social impacts intended? Calculating the environmental impacts of a proposed new regulation? Determining whether a defendant is guilty as charged?
        
        0 3
        Report
        February 19, 2026 12:31pm
      - Ian Boag
        
        Haven’t a clue. Perhaps you know (or can estimate) the answer. If so please share it …. 🙂
        
        0 7
        Report
        February 19, 2026 12:32pm
    - Damocles11
      
      Labour increased baked-in government spending by 80% while in government Ian, and what outstanding improvements have you noticed to justify this astonishing increase in spending? A plethora of new hospitals? Gold standard public healthcare? A nationwide surge in new schools and classrooms? Let us know. Seems we are paying more for worse outcomes.
      
      6 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 19, 2026 11:27am
      - Ian Boag
        
        I’m not endorsing the path we have traversed getting to where we are. I’m just looking for some numbers about what should be cut and what it would save.
        
        Me I would start with the pension where there is about $1-2bn to be saved immediately by income testing it. I might also look at the landlord tax thing from the point of view of “can we really afford to cut $3bn from the tax to be paid by a relatively small number of favoured folk?” Not even a large % of the Nat-supporting voters.
        
        eg I don’t know about TPK. There was always a Maori Affairs Dept since forever which at some stage morphed into TPK. I never bothered to find out what they did then and what they do now. How much it costs to run now, what it does and how much would be saved by reducing its size/scope and what functions would disappear. I could well be convinced if given relevant information …..
        
        Broad brush stuff like “axe half the public service and save $10bn” is just waffle. Noone seems to want say stuff like “we could cut this specific area and it would save this specific $$”. Realistically it’s not worth the bother of saving $10m here and $20m there because it wouldn’t show in my tax bill in any sort of measurable fashion.
        
        0 2
        Report
        February 19, 2026 1:52pm
      - Yabster
        
        tax bill? – thought you were way past retirement age Ian – can’t imagine you are a net taxpayer…..
        
        Sure, get rid of the interest deductibility but as being a landlord is like any other business then as your lot says to be “equitable” (a word hijacked by your mates) you would surely have to do that for all companies- correct? – surely you don’t support those greedy corporates like Spark…. etc// over those small-time landlords planning for retirement after all the pension could soon be means tested huh?
        
        3 0
        Report
        February 19, 2026 2:09pm
      - Ian Boag
        
        @Yabber
        
        can’t imagine you are a net taxpayer….. your imagination does you no service 🙂
        
        get rid of the interest deductibility … being a landlord is like any other business
        
        I guess we agree to disagree.
        
        My point was about it being affordable. Apparently it is. Whatever spending cuts we need to get the country on track will be inflated by this $3bn income cut and we can afford it.
        
        0 5
        Report
        February 19, 2026 2:29pm
      - Yabster
        
        hey Boag its Yabster – I used your name so use my proper handle- funny the things the mods miss….??
        
        counting tax on your pension doesn’t really count… lol
        
        agree to disagree?- so you have no argument to cut interest deductibility for landlords but keep it for the likes of Spark? good work//
        
        4 0
        Report
        February 19, 2026 3:03pm
      - Paulus
        
        Smashing new Multi Million new Kura (ex local Primary school but changed everything on day of opening)
        – biggest problem not enough tamariki for the kura (- like that), but also not enough car parks on the premises for all the teachers and Maori hangers on, but well underway now to expand.
        
        1 0
        Report
        February 19, 2026 3:10pm
      - Ian Boag
        
        @Yabby
        
        The mods (and you) have never complained about the variations on Mike’s handle …
        
        Pension is a benefit – all other benefits are income tested. End of.
        
        Spark’s business model is not based on leveraged tax-free capital gain. Landlordism is pretty much unique in that respect. Maybe if the gains were taxable it might be fair enough that interest was deductible.
        
        But you know all this and think differently. So we can just agree to disagree and look for ways to balance things after these handouts.
        
        0 4
        Report
        February 19, 2026 3:41pm
      - alwyn.a
        
        @Ian Boag
        “the pension where there is about $1-2bn to be saved immediately by income testing it”
        You could probably save $0.75 bn but any more than that might be hard. The Retirement Commission estimate that there are about 50,000 people in NZ who earn over $100k and are over 65. Let us take New Zealand Super off every one of them.
        Assume they are in a couple situation. They will get about $21.5 k/yr on which their marginal tax rate will be at least 33%. Thus we will save about $14,400 each per year or about $720 million in total.
        You could probably get a bit more by going to a lower income but possibly not that much.
        You then would have to look at the work in organising it. Every single pensioners income would have to be looked at every year. It gets reasonably easy where the income is all taxed but what do you do when it isn’t, or is hidden in other family income? How do you handle one-off sums that don’t recur? What do you when someone stops working and the income drops into the below $100 k bracket. Do they start getting Super or doesn’t it start till next year? Is it going to be an all or nothing cutoff? What about the person who then does a deal to cut their income just below $100 K?
        And on and on and on. How many more State employees will you hire?
        
        1 1
        Report
        February 19, 2026 6:14pm
      - Ian Boag
        
        @alwyn.a
        
        Every single pensioners income would have to be looked at every year.
        
        So what? IRD/MSD are joined at the hip – they share data. That would deal with most of it. IRD have had lots of practice at identifying what they call “abusive behaviour”. Gets a bit expensive if unearthed. So if you’re an oldie who shouldn’t be getting the pension and you work a fiddle that IRD decide they don’t like …. go for it. 🙂 Like all dubious tax avoidance measures some would likely work ….
        
        After all – even $750m is better than a kick in the head. Not that I go along with your number. Running the pension down to zero at $100k would of course be abated from something like $75k or so. Just like other benefits.
        
        Anyway KBers seem to like getting excited about $10m here and $20m there ….
        
        0 2
        Report
        February 19, 2026 7:35pm
      - Ian Boag
        
        @Yabster
        
        A funky handle …. unsure why you are so protective of it …. from an online dictionary. To each her own I guess ….
        
        Yabster
        Share definition
        A person who is constantly using their marijuana vape pen (otherwise known as a dab pen). “Yab” is a slang term for dab hence yabster, someone who’s always smacking their yab.
        – Have you see Jason lately?
        
        – Yeah that yabster is always getting high
        by YuhWhatGoodBruh February 7, 2019
        
        0 2
        Report
        February 19, 2026 7:47pm
    - NothingLeft
      
      We could easily halve the civil service head count with basically no impact to services delivered to taxpayers – just bringing it back to relative-to-population headcount of 25 years back with a 50% reduction for typical white-collar productivity improvements bought on by 25years of IT improvements. Though AI can probably do more than half of the remainder now as well.
      
      Shifting that excess 30000 workers from public sector spending tax to private sector paying tax would improve NZ govt’s balance sheet by more than $10billion a year. And diminish a major strong hold of left wing power in NZ
      
      6 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 19, 2026 1:15pm
      - Dudley Quaffquaff
        
        Got any evidence that IT has brought about productivity improvements? This article suggests it didn’t happen, but if you have evidence to the contrary I’m interested to look at it. And can you be specific about what kinds of governmental activity you can see being done by AI instead of by people?
        
        Thousands of executives aren’t seeing AI productivity boom, reminding economists of IT-era paradox | Fortune https://share.google/nKrhsF2xZOSuuQLun
        
        1 1
        Report
        February 19, 2026 3:30pm
    - judith8409121
      
      i go along with the removal of wastage like million and millions spend on ‘anti-racist reports’ and ‘stake holder reports’ lets just cull all of that and all the dei hires. Also the slush fund handouts to iwi to paint their houses and eat on the back of the taxpayer – that should be a good start
      
      3 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 19, 2026 1:58pm
- MCōs
  
  I can’t vote for him because he’s not standing in my electorate, apart from anything else
  
  7 7
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 9:01am
  - pdm
    
    You can still Party Vote ACT and that will help David Seymour and ideally another 10/15 ACT MP’s.
    
    29 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 9:03am
    - MCōs
      
      That’s not going to happen
      I don’t go along with their policies.
      
      0 10
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 19, 2026 11:50am
      - pdm
        
        Yet you imply you would give David Seymour your electorate vote if you were in the Epsom electorate.
        
        6 0
        Report
        February 19, 2026 12:34pm
- judith8409121
  
  very high and mighty of you. you cant have everything you want, in politics you can only have the best of a bad lot or just good enough. ACT and Seymour are better than the 90% of the rabble that are in there – getting all hot under the collar about a decision that went to referendum and was voted by a majority and holding a single person in parliament responsible, especially responsible for something happening in anther country, is frankly, your problem.
  
  8 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 9:07am
  - Ian Boag
    
    ACT and Seymour are better than the 90% of the rabble that are in there
    
    Bloody democracy 🙁 If only the electorate was a clever as you and understood this 🙂
    
    1 7
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 12:45pm
- unaha-closp
  
  You have an inability to distinguish between the NZ ACT Party and the Canadian Liberals/NDP?
  
  The Canadian process is socially conscious and provides effectively uncapped financial support to clinicians who assist. In NZ only restricted capped payments exist and the selection criteria are strict.
  
  3 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 10:27am
- leoj
  
  “You can’t always get what you want” , Mick Jaggar
  
  Voting is never about who you want in power. Voting is only about eliminating each party, one by one, until you are left with what remains.
  
  Maori: Huge NO
  Greens: As bad if not worse.
  Labour: Look what they did to us between 2017 and 2023.
  NZ First: Look what they did to us in 2017.
  National: Led by a spineless maori sympathiser.
  ACT: Not perfect but they get things done and help the spineless Nats with mostly good policy.
  
  13 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 11:13am
- Philview
  
  TVNZ News are constantly pitching that this election is about the “cost of living crisis”. The cost of living has been a problem for a very long time and it was certainly worse under the last Labour Government despite the media trying to pin it all on Chris Luxon and Nicola Willis. Regardless of the Euthanasia issue the current Government including Seymour are light years ahead of the Opposition parties.
  
  10 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 11:18am
  - judith8409121
    
    christ – still people watching that advertisement woke worthless vessel. turn away and turn it off
    
    2 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 2:00pm
  - RoboRob
    
    I think National are falling into a trap with the ‘cost of living’ crisis. The left know they cant win on policy or results but they also know that no government can prove it has beaten the ‘cost of living’ problem. National and others on the right would do better to focus on other issues and clarify the COL crisis is the result of global COVID policy that caused inflation. Without deflation, which we dont want, we cant have prices returning to pre COVID levels.
    
    2 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 2:14pm
- Raphael
  
  Yep, that is the main reason why I will not vote for ACT.
  
  1 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 1:02pm
Wairoa Native

Why are we reporting males who commit the crime of mass shootings, typically committed by males, to be women?

“If biological sex changes how the event is understood, it belongs in the headline, particularly when the wording suggests something statistically unusual.”

https://centrist.nz/what-is-a-woman-suspect/
5 1
Log in to Reply
Report
February 19, 2026 8:59am
Maggy Wassilieff

Who is ripping the NZ taxpayer off?

New Zealand already invests heavily in infrastructure. But, when compared to other high-income countries, we are spending more and achieving less.

https://tewaihanga.govt.nz/national-infrastructure-plan
19 0
Log in to Reply
Report
February 19, 2026 9:00am
- keepcalmcarryon
  
  Other countries don’t have taniwhas and the road cone industry.
  
  7 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 9:07am
- Quail
  
  MW,
  It is the cost of bureaucracy , and out of hand regulation all adding cost to every activity in NZ.
  Even reforms seem to add just another layer of bureaucracy.
  See RMA and the fast track!
  Simply NZ is over governed and that costs!
  
  8 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 9:22am
  - Paulus
    
    Simple actually
    We are not getting enough tax to do what we all want -we have almost the highest Minimum Wage in the world but with no real increase in productivity except on the Farms and Orchards.
    
    2 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 3:15pm
- rjay
  
  Efficiency of use of capital is probably more relevant. Do I know I can keep my big machines busy while I pay for them or do I need to plan for stop start decisions?
  
  2 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 9:40am
- Dudley Quaffquaff
  
  Infrastructure spend in New Zealand is bound to achieve less because of population density. 200k of motorway or of railway tracks costs just as much in NZ as elsewhere, possibly more, but goes between and past far fewer people
  
  3 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 9:41am
pdm

Maggy who or what or what relevance is tewhainga?

I clicked on the link but that did not tell me why it is relevant.
9 1
Log in to Reply
Report
February 19, 2026 9:05am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_Infrastructure_Commission
  
  9 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 9:16am
  - pdm
    
    Thanks maggy.
    
    Then they should have only that name – Infrastructure Commission.
    
    14 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 9:56am
    - mandk
      
      Exactly.
      
      Te Reo Māori has a limited vocabulary, which means that organisations need to rely on poetic titles that don’t give much of a clue as to what the organisation does.
      
      I checked a couple of Te Reo to English translation tools, and it seems that Te Waihanga means ‘creation’.
      
      4 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 19, 2026 10:11am
      - judith8409121
        
        poetic titles? don’t you mean pidgen gobly gook. Taxpayers money making up fake words to appease some libtard guilt is not good use of taxpayers money
        
        1 1
        Report
        February 19, 2026 2:02pm
      - Paulus
        
        Haydn wrote the music but called it The Creation – why did noody tell him not to as Maori knows best.
        
        1 0
        Report
        February 19, 2026 3:19pm
    - Don Beckett
      
      So it was commissioned in 2019 – another Jacinda’s Labor government brain fart
      Of course it should go – just another bureaucracy to employ bludgers & suck up our taxes.
      
      9 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 19, 2026 11:08am
      - RoboRob
        
        Luxon likes it (on the radio this morning) and would like to expand its roll.
        
        Not saying I do or dont like it, I dont know enough about it.
        
        1 0
        Report
        February 19, 2026 2:16pm
Chuck Bird

The PM will be on ZB from 10 to 11 this morning.
5 3
Log in to Reply
Report
February 19, 2026 9:10am
- Notsofast
  
  Then the platform to talk to his potential voters?
  
  2 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 10:50am
- MCōs
  
  I didn’t listen because the guy is as dull as dishwater
  
  3 8
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 12:01pm
imalwaysright

Lots of coverage over the dog attack,
but when an infant is tortured for months, and finally is murdered, they give it 10 seconds on the news as “a two year old died from injuries received.”

No mention of the prolonged torture and murder.
6 0
Log in to Reply
Report
February 19, 2026 9:13am
- OlderChas
  
  Re the roaming dogs problem. Why not just make a new law that properly trained and qualified people are licensed to patrol and shoot roaming dogs on sight? As with the feral cat problem – pay the above to go out at night and just shoot them.
  
  3 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 1:39pm
  - imalwaysright
    
    Agree Older, and give the same people the right to shoot the scumbags who harm kids…
    
    0 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 6:27pm
sungsamning

The economy isn’t all bad. Inflation has cooled. Wages are up. Private sector jobs are growing. And Trump is building a massive war chest ahead of 2026. [AOC shot her bolt when she couldn’t answer a simple question recently. Dems have thrown her under the bus. Hilary Clinton, anfd Obama have ‘come out against open bordere’. If you beleive that, you’ll believe anything. The talking filibuster is the key. If the feds can insist on voter ID, its over.]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-JHw69xVy8
They’re Lying To You About the Midterms.
2 3
Log in to Reply
Report
February 19, 2026 9:15am
sungsamning

Donald Trump was elected to accomplish a number of objectives. One of them was to cut, and hard, the federal administrative state. The mission has not been accomplished, but after a year, the federal workforce has fallen from more than 3 million to about 2.7 million, roughly where it was six decades ago, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. [ACT have done their best here to trim the ‘Public Service’. Unfortunately, they’re only allowed to use a beard trimmer, not a chainsaw like Trump, and Milei. One can but hope it becomes an election issue. ]
https://issuesinsights.com/2026/02/18/keep-firing-federal-freeloaders/
Keep Firing Federal Freeloaders.
4 2
Log in to Reply
Report
February 19, 2026 9:16am
Yvette

The geniuses at NZEI have launched a campaign called Make It Stop. Their campaign video has kids playing the recorder and people begging them to stop. It is meant to be some sort of super clever analogy aimed at the Government, but most people will just see it as the NZEI dissing kids learning music. – kiwiblog host David Farrar, yesterday evening post
So you can see how bloody awful it is –
https://www.facebook.com/reel/880892461505997

“Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake” is a strategic maxim often attributed to Sun Tzu or Napoleon.  Doesn’t matter one iota who said it, the point is let it rip. I hope they buy a big campaign on television and run it as often as ‘Trivago’ and ‘No Crust Pizza’.
 I will willingly sit through such a travesty, knowing what damage it is doing to Teachers’ Union reputation and how much the treatment of the National Anthem will leave Winston coiled to strike the perpetrators.
“Make it Stop” – no, Let Them Do It
7 0
Log in to Reply
Report
February 19, 2026 9:27am
RoboRob

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/587240/ironic-that-government-has-run-out-of-time-to-pursue-longer-parliamentary-term-law-expert

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith told Morning Report the government could re-look at four year terms if it was re-elected.

Goldsmith said the National Party found the extra powers for select committees idea “very complicated”.

Yet another example of Goldsmiths ‘pace’. Has he even gotten around to ammending his own ‘gang patch law’ to stop judges returning the patches? What about the issues around the BSA?
8 0
Log in to Reply
Report
February 19, 2026 9:35am
- pdm
  
  Goldsmith the ditherer strikes again.
  
  12 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 9:57am
RoboRob

National struggles for traction as NZ First gains ground in new poll

https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360940429/national-struggles-traction-nz-first-gains-ground-new-poll

I broke my own rule about visiting Stuff for this post!

How is it that National media can report on this poll as if it is actually valid. I know that no polling companies polls will exactly match but this poll consistantly has Labour massively (7% in this case) ahead of National. ALL other polls have the parties much closer and with National almost always slightly ahead. Now either all the other polling companies have this wrong or there is something majorly broken with the Post / Freshwater strategy poll.

Looking into Freshwater AI says…

Issues..
Documented major failure in 2025 Australia
Methodological concerns raised by analysts
Consistent pattern of outlier results compared to other pollsters
Limited transparency relative to top-tier public pollsters

So the question is, why does NZ MSM publicise these polls over say Roy Morgan, when there are well known issues with them? Is it just becuase it is good for the left?
15 2
Log in to Reply
Report
February 19, 2026 9:46am
- pdm
  
  Yet they never cover Roy Morgan Polls which have much better methodology and are therefore more accurate.
  
  14 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 9:59am
  - rjay
    
    I was polled by Roy Morgan last night. There are issues with the length of some questions and the level of boredom of the questioner.
    
    4 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 12:51pm
  - alwyn.a
    
    One problem with the Roy Morgan Poll is that they tend to be out of date.
    The one published on 03 February had polling done between 06 January and 26 January. Thus the centre of the polling period is about 3 weeks before it is published.
    
    0 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 6:27pm
- cmm
  
  This is “I believe in fairies thinking”.
  If you say it enough, and ignore enough reality, it might come true.
  
  7 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 10:00am
- Prince
  
  The fact that it is commissioned by The Post, Wellington’s far left daily, tells you everything you need to know.
  
  8 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 10:14am
- mandk
  
  The end of the Stuff story indicates that the poll results were weighted to be representative of NZ voters, but this doesn’t mean much.
  
  To know of the poll was any value, we would need to know if the sample was randomly selected, or whether it was self-selected. And if was there a new sample for each poll.
  
  I suspect they use a largely self-selected panel.
  
  5 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 10:20am
  - Paulus
    
    Usually only 1,000 people on their panels.
    Same people I expect.
    
    2 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 3:24pm
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  One word. Vance. She is one nasty piece of work, they are counting TPM as retaining all seats, and suggesting all electorate MPs will retain their seats, sadly for Nats they will lose the Auckland seats they won for the first time ever, Chung apparently is a very hard working electorate mp, he will be replaced by a rotten grease ball, West Coast will probably go back to Labour, it I agree that Nats may well win Wigram as the demographics has changed hugely in that seat, Woods did not bale in anticipation of a Labour win,
  
  Vance is at pains to suggest Nats will not have any list seats which is a crock of shit,
  
  And they are saying with over hang it’s a 127 seat government, what a total load of bollocks
  
  6 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 10:32am
  - MCōs
    
    The article actually says
    
    “. . . . internal conflicts and declining party vote support for Te Pāti Māori means it is unlikely to retain six Māori seats.”
    
    “If Te Pāti Māori secures four electorate seats, the right-bloc would hold the balance of power, with 65 seats to the left’s 62, in a 127-seat Parliament.
    And if it won only one electorate, the current coalition would have a four-seat majority.”
    
    Andrea Vance is probably quite relieved you think she is a nasty piece of work
    
    1 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 1:26pm
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  And as I remember the last few freshwater bullshit polls have had the opposition governing, so even this poll shows the same trend as all other polls since that the coalition is lifting from the lows of early November
  
  6 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 10:40am
- Damocles11
  
  The two worst ones and the Freshwater one and the one that also consistently has Labour leading and often seems to see a spike in the ACT vote so they can transmit the messaging in the following polls that ‘ACT has dropped’, with a aeries of small decreases.
  
  7 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 11:31am
- Wairoa Native
  
  The NZ Media seem very happy to ignore/move on from the Feb 03 Roy Morgan Poll results.
  
  “National-led Government (National, ACT & NZ First) on 52%, up 1.5% points from a month earlier, now 8% points in front of the Labour-Greens-Maori Party Parliamentary Opposition on 44%, down 3% points, the latest Roy Morgan New Zealand Poll finds.”
  
  “Amongst the National-led Government support for National increased 1.5% to 34.5%, support for NZ First was down 1% to 9%, while support for ACT increased 1% at 8.5%.”
  
  “For the Parliamentary Opposition, support for Labour dropped 2% points to 30.5%, support for the Greens dropped 1.5% points to 10.5%, and support for the Maori Party was up 0.5% to 3%.”
  
  “This is the largest lead the National-led Government has had for 16 months since September 2024. ”
  https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/10111-nz-national-voting-intention-january-2026
  
  4 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 1:10pm
Jack5

So they have one!

A Radio New Zealand web site piece on Fiji’s politics begins: “Canterbury University’s distinguished professor Steven Ratuva says …”
3 0
Log in to Reply
Report
February 19, 2026 9:47am
Cassandra

Stuff trumpets a poll which has Labour at 37% and National at 30%. Then right at the end of its gloomy article tells readers that it was conducted online only. Thus excluding a huge proportion of potential voters. I will no doubt be reminded to stop looking at Stuff!
26 1
Log in to Reply
Report
February 19, 2026 9:51am
- David Garrett
  
  Cass: I go to Stuff mainly to do the quiz…haven’t managed 15/15 for a while – a dreadful 8 today.
  
  I fight their constant demands for money very irritating – all the more so because they have the gall to suggest they are doing God’s work counter-acting misinformation. I wonder how long it will last??
  
  17 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 10:02am
  - Cassandra
    
    I hope not long. Closing this afternoon would be great.
    
    13 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 10:15am
  - RoboRob
    
    David. If you really want them to close you can assist by NOT going to their site every day to do a quiz. I’m doing my bit.
    
    10 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 11:03am
  - In Vino Veritas
    
    Long enough to have people realise that Stuff countering misinformation is misinformation.
    
    3 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 11:20am
  - pdm
    
    Beat you DG I got 9.
    
    Okay I am bragging but I got 19/20 in last Saturdays broader one.
    
    2 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 12:37pm
- Philview
  
  I recall their preferred PM poll last year and it had Chris Hipkins on something like 55% and Chloe on something like 17%. Clearly their readership comes from the Left. These days I tend to go on there for about 10 seconds a day.
  
  4 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 11:13am
Chuck Bird

Thumbs up if you agree with Pauline and thumbs down if you don’t.

Pauline Hanson discusses Muslim Comments on ABC NEWS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x6rF7nOy-I
21 3
Log in to Reply
Report
February 19, 2026 9:57am
- David Garrett
  
  Hanson is spot on – with one very important caveat: it doesn’t matter how carefully you vet Muslim immigrants – it’s their children who are more likely to become radicalized and perhaps develop into terrorists.
  
  I maintain the firm view that we should not be letting anyone in from Muslim countries. That’s the safest strategy.
  
  29 4
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 10:11am
  - Cassandra
    
    Agree. Many are just fine (to a degree anyway) but how do you tell? And overall Islam is not compatible with the NZ way of life.
    
    21 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 10:17am
    - David Garrett
      
      cass: What do you mean overall? Can you tell me one thing about the death cult that is Islam that is compatible with our way of life? I honestly can’t think of any.
      
      18 4
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 19, 2026 10:21am
      - Jack5
        
        The prostrate portion of Muslim prayer’s probably good for people’s backs, especially with the increased amount of sitting in daily life.
        
        4 1
        Report
        February 19, 2026 10:29am
      - Cassandra
        
        Well, there must be something about some aspect of Islam that is not entirely inimical. Isn’t there a slice that’s peaceful? Sufism?
        
        3 3
        Report
        February 19, 2026 11:24am
      - David Garrett
        
        cass: One obscure sect is irrelevant
        
        6 2
        Report
        February 19, 2026 11:50am
      - cmm
        
        DG: What I find somewhat interesting is the Islamic situation in Cape Town. They are over the threshold in terms of numbers but there is none of the craziness. Perhaps that is because they have coexisted for over 350 years rather than just turned up in the last few decades.
        
        In CapeTown the Muslims are generally conservative. There are some Muslim vigilante gangs but they sort out the drug dealing gangs and otherwise seem to commit little or no crime and are generally viewed favourably by the Christians.
        
        3 1
        Report
        February 19, 2026 1:26pm
    - Yvette
      
      Cassandra, is there in fact a different kind of Islam in New Zealand, and Jewish Community for that matter?
      And if such differences exist it could be extremely interesting to know why.
      
      The New Zealand Harmony Accord is a 2025 government-led initiative signing a formal agreement between major Jewish and Muslim organizations to foster social cohesion, combat rising antisemitism and Islamophobia, and prevent international conflicts from dividing local communities. Signed at Government House, it emphasizes mutual respect and dialogue, though some groups declined, arguing it wrongly frames a political issue as a religious one.
      
      • Key Principles: The document affirms shared values of safety, respect, and the right to peaceful expression while standing against extremism.
      • Opposition/Concerns: Groups like Alternative Jewish Voices (AJV) and ICONZ declined to sign, arguing the conflict in Gaza is political, not a religious issue requiring a specific interfaith council.
      
      The initiative was promoted by Minister for Ethnic Communities Mark Mitchell as a necessary, brave step to prevent the importation of foreign conflicts, ensuring New Zealand remains a safe, inclusive society.
      – Google: The New Zealand Harmony Accord 2025
      
      1 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 19, 2026 11:55am
  - Notsofast
    
    Islam enables the Taliban, Hamas, the Islamic guard in Iran, the annihilation of women’s freedom in all cases, and prohibits leaving their cult.
    What is not to admire?
    The Christchurch widows were lacking driving licenses and bank accounts as I recall.
    A day of national shame with Ardern donning the misogynist costume. Awful.
    
    9 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 10:57am
    - MCōs
      
      Islam doesn’t enable anything. Various groups, including those you mention, claim they represent Islam in much the same way as various groups claim to represent Christianity
      
      2 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 19, 2026 5:10pm
  - Charlotte Wells
    
    The big question that noone wants to address is; if we stopped further immigration, what do we do with the ones already here?
    
    4 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 11:40am
    - MCōs
      
      A question for you
      Do you think Tarrant was correct in his approach?
      Because that’s what it sounds like to me.
      
      2 6
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 19, 2026 1:10pm
      - Charlotte Wells
        
        You must have come in from the long run-up to make that big a leap.
        
        FYI I don’t think Tarrant was correct in his approach.
        
        His was a vile act of butchery and as evil as what Hamas did.
        
        0 0
        Report
        February 19, 2026 7:33pm
      - Sir Henry Morgan
        
        Regarding Tarrant. . .
        
        Given the constant Muslim attacks on Christians and apostates around the world, I’m amazed there have not been more Tarrants.
        
        Yes. We can say Tarrant committed an atrocity.
        
        We can also say, given the endless Muslim atrocities (Boko Haram attacks in Nigeria, attacks on European Christmas markets, attacks on Ariana Grande concerts in Britain, attacks on soldiers in Britain, attacks on churches in Sri Lanka, beheadings of French priests, shootings of French cartoonists, stabbings of Dutch politicians, blindings of novelists, and so on and so on. . .), what would any reasonable person expect?
        
        Yeah. Tarrant’s approach was incorrect. The approach of the New Zealand government is arguably just as incorrect, maybe worse in the long term.
        
        Seriously, what does anyone expect will happen as New Zealand’s Muslim population grows? New Zealand will get the same stuff being enjoyed by the rest of the world. We’ve already had a bit. We’re on track to get plenty more.
        
        0 0
        Report
        February 20, 2026 1:47am
    - Yvette
      
      Charlotte, your question may be one Maori ask continually: “If we stopped further immigration, what do we do with the ones already here?”
      
      It appears (so far): nothing, except engulf them with as much of our culture as theirs will allow.
      
      0 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 19, 2026 1:25pm
    - cmm
      
      Maybe we can’t do anything with the problems we already have, but we can stop drilling holes in the bottom of the boat.
      
      They are out breeding everyone else. Every second person killed by Tarrant was a “Loving father of 6”.
      
      So sure, there might not be a long term solution, but stopping the flow might at least prolong things by a few decades.
      
      5 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 19, 2026 2:17pm
  - Paulus
    
    Did not a number of the Helen Clark related Tampa families come and stay but the children went as soon a possible to Sydney some year ago and are part of the greater problem Australia is having with Muslims.
    We may not be far away -some Indians are not necessarily Muslim here, but Hindu.
    
    2 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 3:30pm
    - MCōs
      
      In that case they’d be deported back to NZ, wouldn’t they?
      As it happened about 150/450 Afghani refugees came to NZ just over twenty years ago and were not eligible to go to Oz
      What happened to their kids? You seem to know more details than I can find.
      
      1 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      February 19, 2026 5:33pm
- Chuck Bird
  
  Has anyone read the comment in the video?
  
  1 4
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 10:33am
Jack5

Rent a human …

An artificial intelligence web site is promoting hiring human beings.

A sample from it :

… need someone to pick up a package, attend a meeting, take photos, or run an errand? Browse verified humans by skill, location, and rate.

Don’t miss the “top rated” humans portion.

https://rentahuman.ai/
2 0
Log in to Reply
Report
February 19, 2026 10:26am
TripeWryter

On the Wellington airwaves this morning Nick Mills is doing a bit of a rant about a report that since Malachi Subecz, aged 4, was beaten and starved to death by his ‘care-giver’ five years ago – not much has been done to ensure it doesn’t happen again. Baby ‘Ru’ …
Twenty-four little ones. And they were little.
And often photos posted show such happy little ones.
Their smiling, laughing faces show not a care in the world.
Then darkness and pain and terror befall them and they die such painful deaths.
Then the whanau – it usually is a whanau – tell the nodding TV reporters who are trying to manufacture some sort of sympathy that ‘baby’ was loved and cared for.
It’s bullshit, of course.
Last week there was a story that the mainstream media pretended to ignore.
An Oranga Tamariki worker e-mailed a whistle-blowing bombshell to Duncan Garner, which he read out on his YouTube podcast.
In essence in 2023 the Oranga Tamariki workers and their employers managed a deal in which Maori – and only Maori – workers benefited.
They could take unlimited time off for things to do with Maori.
As I said, most of our media have ignored it.
It was the cliche’d bombshell.
The only mainstream media I’ve heard tackle it were Michael Hosking and Heather du Plessis-Allan.
She expressed disappointment that they ignored it and that was because ‘it’s so common now. It’s not unusual any more’.
But the Oranga Tamariki deal with their employer told me something else: that the priorities and interests of Oranga Tamariki’s workers did not lie with protecting children.
How else do you explain 24 little children now in graves whom Oranga Tamariki were supposed to protect?
The Minister, Karen Chhour – a woman I have enormous respect for – says the agreement is legal and she can’t undo it.
I thought Parliament could do anything it wanted. Surely it should not be difficult for a National or Act MP to come up with a bill to kill the agreement?
Otherwise. Disestablish Oranga Tamariki – and start again.
12 2
Log in to Reply
Report
February 19, 2026 10:48am
imalwaysright

The Wellington southerly has been renamed the Shitstorm…
Public service dress code now states Brown is the new Black…
10 3
Log in to Reply
Report
February 19, 2026 11:04am
- Paulus
  
  Backfiring back to the River Jordan, eh the Greens!
  
  0 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 3:32pm
slightlyrighty

Wellington Council has paused all cycleway expansion until they sort their shit out…..literally!
11 2
Log in to Reply
Report
February 19, 2026 11:40am
cmm

The home invasion in Chch is a bit worrying – just down the road for me.

This one was associated with some cultural organisations sometimes negatively portrayed as gangs.

I don’t know why people are so negative about gangs. This area has many problems with opposing cultural organisations of all sorts.

Just last week the Lions Club were running the sausage sizzle at the local Mitre10 when some Rotary Club members showed up and started hassling them. Luckily that big Maori guy from the timber department drive through came and settled the situation. Next week the Chihuahua club is running the sausage sizzle. I hope the German Shepherd Club don’t hassle them.

Of course that last paragraph is nonsense and never happened. The Rotary guy bought 2 sausages and told the Lions guy to keep the rest of the $20 as a donation.
13 3
Log in to Reply
Report
February 19, 2026 12:12pm
- Swifty
  
  We members of the Avondale Daffodil Club regularly rumble with the Blockhouse Bay Tulip Society.
  
  We even set their club rooms alight back in ‘17.
  
  8 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 12:25pm
- imalwaysright
  
  ?, can you stay on the page perhaps?
  
  1 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 1:00pm
- RoboRob
  
  Lol, I applied my ‘if they dont provide details of those involved assume its gangs’ rule and it appears I still have a 100% success rate. When are the media (and police?) going to stop trying to hide the situation from people. The more stories about gang violence the less likely people are going to give them moeny to run community projects. The more likely people will support ‘tough on gang’ policy.
  
  Edit
  I take it back! Just went to the news sites and they are now saying it was the Mongrel mob. I guess its all ‘abundance of caution’ and wanting to put out misleading information.
  
  4 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 2:29pm
I remember when

Luchtime entertainment at the Highbury shopping area.
Man double tasered by the police, apparently with many conversations supporting the actions.
Member of the public also found may be an ‘item of interest’ that appears to have been dropped in the buildup.
As a local customer commented, “It must be Thursday.”
7 1
Log in to Reply
Report
February 19, 2026 1:00pm
- RoboRob
  
  So ‘Man double tasered….’ = Gang member / thug
  ‘item of interest’ = Knife / Gun
  
  Why the ambiguity on these ‘news’ reports.
  
  5 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 2:31pm
surfing

I want to know how long it takes to get a new passport.

I go to http://www.passports.govt.nz and click this link…

Cost, timeframes and delivery
Find out how much it costs and how long it takes to get your passport.

ABSOLUTELY NO MENTION OF ‘HOW LONG IT TAKES’

Typical useless government department!
2 1
Log in to Reply
Report
February 19, 2026 1:13pm
- surfing
  
  Actually, found it 🙂 My bad. Sorry govt.
  
  4 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 1:23pm
  - MCōs
    
    https://www.passports.govt.nz/passport-costs/passport-timeframes
    
    2 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    February 19, 2026 1:35pm
- Ian Boag
  
  About $250 and mine took about 10 days. FWIW
  
  5 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 1:26pm
cmm

Useless Herald.

They use a stock photo of a cicada for a dumb story about cicadas being loud.

They chose an orange & black North American periodical cicada. Nothing like ours.

It would seem that our journalists have never seen a cicada in NZ, but still feel sufficiently informed to write an article.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/why-are-new-zealands-cicadas-so-loud-this-time-of-year-and-is-it-dangerous/WH77UDZ2RFEAHIRCO2ZHWORMJE/
5 2
Log in to Reply
Report
February 19, 2026 2:11pm
- imalwaysright
  
  Is that the greater orange & black North American periodical cicada,or the lesser
  orange & black North American periodical cicada….?
  
  0 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 6:40pm
NothingLeft

Californian voting fraud expose by Nick Shirley:

https://youtu.be/zSh1Ey4dLcY

Clearly huge scale and coordinated by almost entirely state-controlling Democrat apparatus – at every level; civil service, police, judicary and politicians that have created laws to make it easy to cheat and prevent official investigation along with the unions and NGOs that they partner with to do some of the leg work and produce the results they desire and give them kickbacks from the taxpayer money they are fed by the politicians they help install.

It wouldn’t be happening at all if it wasn’t at sufficient scale to be outcome determining in elections. That’s how you know it is swinging elections for the ‘winners’.

Same is happening in Blue Cities all over USA, which is why Democrats are going hard to try and prevent law changes that will make it harder to cheat.
5 3
Log in to Reply
Report
February 19, 2026 3:45pm
Charlotte Wells

slightlyrighty asked this yesterday;

“I’m curious to know what the Trump Supporters here think of the decision by the US FCC and the management of CBS to prevent the broadcast of an interview by Stephen Colbert of James Talarico ……”

Turns out Colbert was flat out lying.

More TDS from the usual suspects.

Has nobody learnt that anything reported in the media about Trump is commonly a misrepresentation or an outright lie. The examples are legion.

For goodness sake folks, give it a couple of days and the truth will set you free.

Media reporting about Trump is proof of the adage that a lie will reported around the world before the truth has done up its fly.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
February 19, 2026 6:19pm
greybeard

Why on earth are we still being subjected to articles on Barack Obama ?
Please ! Tell me ! What is his relevance in 2026 ?
7 1
Log in to Reply
Report
February 19, 2026 6:24pm
- Charlotte Wells
  
  He was president between 2020 and 2024. Possibly the only persident to have 3 terms in the modeen era.
  
  0 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  February 19, 2026 7:28pm
Swifty

Winston reads from McAnulty’s CV:

https://x.com/2eteka/status/2024356473401487435?s=46

Hahahahhahaha!
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
February 19, 2026 7:28pm

Add a Comment Cancel reply

Login to comment or vote

« The Kainga Ora turnaround

The real Teaching Council scandal is all the crappy projects »

Donations

You can now donate to Kiwiblog

Exclusive content from DPF on Patreon

Become a Patron!

Never miss a post

Email Address

Join 13K other subscribers

Highlights

Target achieved II
Good progress on attendance
Health Target 5 – elective treatments
Health Target 4 – Specialist appointments

Links

"For 40 years, NZers have been told that fewer councils mean better government. For 40 years, the evidence has refused to oblige."
Not PC
Let’s not celebrate copyright law extension
Utopia
They all do it…
The Standard
My Final Word: Jools Topp & the New Zealand We’ve Lost
The Daily Blog
The beat up about so called NZ freeloading
Point of Order
Word of the day
Hompaddock
Saturday’s Quick Hits
No Minister
Parliament fails to defend transparency
No Right Turn
Playing with numbers.
Kiwipolitico
Another non-tariff barrier
Offsetting Behaviour
Rugby Premiership Predictions for Round 18
Stats Chat
Budget 2026
NZCPR
UK Conversion Therapy Ban, Digital ID, Rallies, Elections
Bob McCoskrie's McBlog
A central banker’s fiction
Croaking Cassandra
THE WORKING FROM HOME RACKET BY PUBLIC SERVANTS
No Punches Pulled (Bob Jones)
Tory Whanau may have to sell Wellington mayoralty to make ends meet
The Civilian
The Accidental Engagement
Imperator Fish
Legal Beagle: Election '23: The Special Votes
Public Address
Get Vaccinated Tomorrow Or Shut Your Pie Hole
Cactus Kate
Making this movie might have been a mistake
Liam Hehir
Why I am retiring from political blogging
Kiwi FireWalker

[email protected]

PO Box 12270, Thorndon, Wellington 6144

Facebook
Twitter
FourSquare
Instagram
LinkedIn
Google+

Archives
Disclosure Statement
Editorial Policy
Privacy Policy
Complaints Policy
Comments Policy

Design by cre8d

%d

Share this:

Like this: